Video camera assembly for a firearm

ABSTRACT

A video camera assembly for a firearm is disclosed. The video camera assembly is attached to the firearm, and has a frame and a controller located on a circuit board inside of the frame. In operative connection with the circuit board is a memory, a video camera, integrated with a lens, that generates video data to be stored on the memory, a microphone that generates audio data to be stored on the memory, and a power supply. A power switch connects power to the controller from the power supply in an on position and disconnects power to the controller in an off position. The video camera generates video data and the microphone generates audio data when the power switch is in the on position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to firearms accessories, and more particularly, to a video camera assembly attached to a firearm.

BACKGROUND

Body cameras are often worn by members of law enforcement to record their encounters with the public, and more specifically, the actions of the members of law enforcement wearing body cameras during these encounters. These recordings are used to determine whether the actions taken by law enforcement, such as the use of lethal force, is justified or appropriate in accordance with laws and the training of the members of law enforcement.

However, there are events, such as the unholstering and drawing of a firearm by the member of law enforcement, that may block the view of the camera. When the camera's view is blocked, the actions taken by the law enforcement officer, or the member of the public for which the law enforcement is pointing his firearm, is not able to be determined from the video camera. The blocked video footage prevents comprehensive evidence of the events during the encounter. The moments after a firearm is drawn is often critical information in determining the justification of use of lethal force with the firearm.

Further, body cameras exist that are battery powered. However, leaving the body camera turned on the entire time a law enforcement officer is on duty requires frequent charging of the battery of the body camera, or frequent swapping of the battery to a battery that is fully charged to prevent the battery powering the body camera from dying.

While effective, there remains a need for improved video cameras, such as video cameras used by members of law enforcement.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, a video camera assembly for a firearm is disclosed. The video camera assembly is attached to the firearm, and has a frame and a controller located on a circuit board inside of the frame. In operative connection with the circuit board is a memory, a video camera, integrated with a lens, that generates video data to be stored on the memory, a microphone that generates audio data to be stored on the memory, and a power supply. A power switch connects power to the controller from the power supply in an on position and disconnects power to the controller in an off position. The video camera generates video data and the microphone generates audio data when the power switch is in the on position.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of generating video data with a video camera assembly is provided. The method includes providing the video camera assembly attached to a rail mount of a firearm. The video camera assembly has a frame, a controller located on a circuit board inside of the frame. In operative connection with the controller is a memory located on the circuit board, a camera integrated with a lens, a microphone, and a power supply. A power switch connects power to the controller from the power supply in an on position and disconnect power to the controller in an off position. The camera generates video data to be stored on the memory, the microphone generates audio data to be stored on the memory, and the camera generates the video data and the microphone generates the audio data when the power switch is in the on position. The method further includes turning the power switch to the on position.

These and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary firearm having a camera assembly attached to a rail mount of the firearm, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the exemplary firearm of FIG. 1 , having the camera assembly attached to the bottom of the magazine of the firearm, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an exemplary charging holster, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the hardware of the camera assembly and the firearm of FIG. 1 of the present disclosure, with the controller operatively connected to a variety of components, in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to firearms, such as pistols, rifles, or other portable guns having a video camera to record in the direction the firearm is pointed when the firearm is unholstered and in an aiming position to provide increased visibility of the video camera, improved efficiency, and so on. A firearm is a ranged gun designed to use the gun barrel to launch solid projectiles, such as a bullet, when the firearm is discharged or fired.

One object of the present disclosure is provide for personal insurance in the act of self-defense, for law enforcement, and for the justice system, whether the user is a civilian defending themselves or law enforcement protecting the people. Another object is to provide clear video and audio understanding of the moments in which the discharging of a firearm takes place. A further object is to allow the user of a firearm prove that they were lawfully firing the firearm by capturing footage and audio as soon as the firearm is unholstered, serving as evidence in a court of law.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the principles set forth herein, FIG. 1 is a side view of a firearm 2 having a video camera assembly 4 attached to a firearm frame 5. The firearm frame 5 has a pistol grip 6, a trigger 7 for discharging, or firing, the firearm 2, a barrel 8, and a rail mount 9. The rail mount 9 is located underneath the barrel 8 of the firearm for attaching firearm accessories, such as laser pointers, flashlights, and additional grips (all not shown). The rail mount 9 is also used to attach the video camera assembly 4 to the firearm, by a slide attachment 10 on the video camera assembly 4, which is slideably attachable to the rail mount 9. In one exemplary embodiment, the rail mount 9 is a Picatinny rail, such as a MIL-S TD-1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail.

In one exemplary embodiment, the video camera assembly 4 attaches to a clip (not shown) and the clip attaches to the firearm frame 5 for attaching the video camera assembly 4 to the firearm 2. The clip may also attach to the barrel 8 or pistol grip 6 for attaching the video camera assembly 4 to the firearm 2. In another embodiment, the firearm frame 5 includes a trigger guard fixture (not shown) that attaches to a trigger guard 56 and the video camera assembly 4 for attaching the video camera assembly 4 to the firearm 2. The trigger guard fixture is a clip method that allows the video camera assembly 4 to be mounted on the firearm 2 when a rail mount 9 is not present.

The firearm frame 5 may also have a firearm safety 11. The firearm safety 11, is moveable to a engaged position, in which in the engaged position the firearm is prevented from being able to discharge, or fire, a bullet. The firearm safety 11 is also moveable to a disengaged position, in which the firearm is able to discharge, or fire, a bullet when the trigger 7 is pulled. The firearm safety 11, as shown in the FIG. 1 embodiment, may be located on the side of the firearm frame 5, or may be located in the middle of the trigger 7, such as the trigger safeties used by some known semi-automatic pistols.

As best shown in FIG. 1 , the video camera assembly 4 attaches to the firearm frame 5. The video camera assembly 4 has a frame 12, a microphone 13, a video camera 14 integrated with a lens 15, and a power switch 16.

The frame 12, as shown, has a cylindrical shape, but may be rectangular, cube shaped, or any other shape. The slide attachment 10 is located on top of the frame 12, and is used to attach the video camera assembly 4 to the rail mount 9 of the firearm frame 5.

The video camera 14, having the integrated lens 15, is located on the front of the frame 12, and is used to capture video, or pictures, in the direction that the firearm 2 is pointed, or in other words, in the direction bullets are fired out of the barrel 8. The video camera 14, in one exemplary embodiment, may be a thermographic camera, such as a night vision camera, and the thermographic camera creates an image using infrared radiation.

As best shown in FIG. 4 , inside of the frame 12 are the internals for operating the video camera assembly 4. Specifically, FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration detailing the internal components of the video camera assembly 14. Located on a circuit board 17 inside of the frame 12 is a controller 18. The controller is a processor unit or CPU that is operatively connected to many of the components that comprises the video camera assembly 4 and/or firearm 2. The video camera 14 and microphone 13 are operatively controlled by the controller 18, which has one or more integrated circuits, processors, or CPUs that are used to process data, send and process instructions, encrypt or compress data, store data onto a memory 19 in operative connection with the controller and located on the circuit board 17, or to transmit data. More specifically, the controller 18 sends a signal to the video camera 14 to record video, the video camera 14 generating video data that is sent back to the controller 18, the video data is processed by the controller 18, and stored on the memory 19. Further, the controller 18 sends a signal to the microphone 13 to record audio that is occurring around the video camera assembly 4, the microphone generating audio data that is sent back to the controller 18, the audio data is processed by the controller 18, and stored on the memory 19. The controller 18 may also transmit the saved audio and video data to a remote location using any known wireless data transmission methods.

Further in operative connection with the controller 18 is a power supply 20 that is located inside of the frame 12. The power supply 20 is a battery that is capable of supplying power to the controller 18, and powering the camera 14, microphone 13, and all powered components of the video camera assembly 4.

The video camera assembly may also have a power switch 21. As shown in FIG. 4 , the power switch 21, or on/off switch, is in operative connection with the controller 18 and the power supply 20, and is configured to connect power to the controller 18 from the power supply 20 in an on position, and disconnect power from the power supply 20 to the controller 18 in an off position. When the power switch 21 is in the on position, power flows from the power supply 20 to the controller 18, and the controller 18 sending a signal to the video camera 14 and the microphone 13 to generate the video and audio data, respectfully. When the power switch 21 is in the off position, power is disconnected to the controller, and the video camera assembly 14 and microphone 13 are turned off and do not generate any data. The power switch 21 may be located on the frame 12. In another exemplary embodiment, the power switch 21 is located on the firearm safety 11, and thus, the firearm safety 11 is a combined firearm safety and the power switch 21. In this embodiment, when the firearm safety 11 is in the disengaged position, the firearm 2 is capable of being fired, and discharging a bullet, and the video camera 14 and the microphone 13 are generating video and audio data, respectfully, to be sent to the controller 18. Further in this embodiment, when the firearm safety 11 is in the engaged position, the firearm 2 is not capable of being fired, or discharging a bullet, and no video or audio data is generated by the video camera 14 or microphone 13.

The power switch 21 may also have a third position, being the standby position. In the standby position, power is supplied to the controller 18 from the power supply 20 but the controller 18 only sending the signal to the video camera 14 to generate video data and the microphone 13 to generate audio data when the controller 18 receives a signal from one or more sensors 22 that the firearm 2 with the attached video camera assembly 4 is unholstered. Unholstered means that the firearm 2 is not in a gun holster (not shown) on the waist of a user and the firearm 2 is drawn and positioned in a firing position by the user. The one or more sensors 22 are in operative connection with the controller 18, and are located within the frame 12 of the video camera assembly 4. In one exemplary embodiment, the firearm safety 11 is the power switch 21, and the disengaged positioned of the firearm safety 11 may be the on position of the power switch 21 or the standby position of the power switch 21. In a further embodiment, the power switch 21 is located on the frame 12 of the video camera assembly and has the on, off, and standby positions, and the user may place the power switch 21 in the on, off, or standby positions. In an even further exemplary embodiment, the video camera assembly 4 is automatically placed into the standby position when the video camera assembly 4 is charging. The video camera assembly may have an LED light indicator for showing if the video camera assembly 4 is in the on, off, or standby positions. For example, if the video camera assembly is in the standby position, the LED light may be solidly lit, or flashing to indicate that it is in the standby position.

In one embodiment, the sensor 22 is an accelerometer that is configured to detect when the firearm is moved from the holstered position to the unholstered position, with the video camera 14 generating the video data when the unholstered position is detected and the power switch 21 in the standby position. Thus, the accelerometer detects and recognizes movements of the video camera assembly 4 that is attached to the firearm, and is operative connection with controller 18, and is configured to measure movement using 3-axis coordinates, such as movement in the x, y, and z axis.

In another exemplary embodiment, the sensor 22 is a heartbeat sensor in operative connection with the controller 18. In this embodiment, the heartbeat sensor may be located on the pistol grip 6 or the trigger 7, and is utilized to measure the presence of a heart beat of a user using the firearm 2. Thus, the heartbeat sensor detects that the firearm 2 in unholstered by measuring a the presence of a heartbeat on the heartbeat sensor, when the power switch in in the standby position, and the heartbeat sensor sends a signal to the processor that a heartbeat has been detected. Once the processor 18 receives a signal that a heartbeat has been detected, the controller 18 sends a signal to the video camera 14 and the microphone 13 to generate video and audio data.

The video camera assembly may also contain an additional element 21 located on the front of the frame 12 of the video camera assembly 12. This additional element may be a flashlight, laser light, or other lighting source. The additional element is in operative communication when the controller 18, and is configured to turn on when the video camera 14 is generating video data.

Turning to FIG. 2 , another embodiment of the present video camera assembly 14 attached to a firearm 2 is shown. In this embodiment, the firearm 2 has a magazine 25 for holding the bullets of the firearm 2, and the magazine is insertable into the pistol grip 6 of the firearm 2. In this embodiment, the rail mount 9 is located on the base of the magazine 25, and thus, the video camera assembly 4 is attachable to the magazine 25 of the firearm 2 instead of underneath the barrel 8 on the frame 12.

FIG. 3 depicts the charging holster 60. The charging holster 60 may be form fitted to hold the firearm 2, and may include a camera assembly section 62 so that the firearm 2 may be placed into the charging holster 60 with the video camera assembly 4 attached to the firearm 2. Inside of the lining of the charging holster 60 may be a battery that is chargeable by a charging outlet 66, for example, plugging a USB charger into the charging outlet 66 charges the battery located inside of the charging holster 60. The battery may be connected to a first contact point 68 located inside of the video camera assembly section 62 of the charging holster 60 so that the a second charging contact point 70 (FIG. 1 ) located on the side of the video camera assembly 4 contacts the first contact point 68 when the firearm 2 is placed into the charging holster 60. Once the firearm 2 is holstered, power is transferred from the battery of the charging holster 60 to the first contact point 68, then to the second contact point 70, and finally to the power supply 20 to charge the power supply 20. This allows the video camera assembly 4 to be charging when the firearm is holstered.

Further, when the firearm 2 is holstered in the charging holster 60, and is drawn from the holster 60, the second contact point 70 is no longer in connection with the first contact point 68, and the video camera assembly is no longer charging. The controller 18, in one exemplary embodiment, receives a signal from the power supply 20 that it is not longer being charged, and the controller 18 sends a signal to the video camera 14 to begin recording the video data and the microphone to begin recording the audio data.

While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of protection is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the scope of protection. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A video camera assembly for a firearm, comprising: the firearm having a firearm frame; the video camera assembly attached to the firearm, the video camera assembly comprising: a frame, a controller located on a circuit board inside of the frame, a memory located on the circuit board in operative connection with the controller, a video camera, integrated with a lens, in operative connection with the controller, the video camera configured to generate video data to be stored on the memory, a microphone in operative connection with the controller, the microphone configured to generate audio data to be stored on the memory, and a power supply in operative connection with the controller; and a power switch configured to connect power to the controller from the power supply in an on position and disconnect power to the controller in an off position, the video camera generating video data and the microphone generating audio data when the power switch is in the on position.
 2. The video camera assembly of claim 1, in which the firearm has a rail mount.
 3. The video camera assembly of claim 2, in which the rail mount is located on the frame underneath a barrel of the firearm.
 4. The video camera assembly of claim 2, in which the rail mount is located on a base of a magazine, and the magazine is attachable to the firearm.
 5. The video camera assembly of claim 1, in which the firearm further has a firearm safety, in which the firearm can discharge a bullet when the safety is in a disengaged position, and the firearm is prevented from discharging a bullet when the safety is in an engaged position.
 6. The video camera assembly of claim 1, in which the firearm safety is the power switch, and the disengaged position is also the on position, and the engaged position is also the off position.
 7. The video camera assembly of claim 1, in which the power switch is located on the video camera assembly.
 8. The video camera assembly of claim 1, in which the power switch further has a standby position, and power is supplied to the controller when the power switch is in the standby position.
 9. The video camera assembly of claim 8, in which the video camera assembly further has an accelerometer, the accelerometer configured to detect when the firearm is moved from a holstered position to an unholstered position, the video camera generating video data when the unholstered position is detected when the power switch is in the standby position.
 10. The video camera assembly of claim 8, in which the firearm further has a heartbeat sensor located on a grip of the firearm or a trigger of the firearm, in which when the power switch is in the standby position and a heartbeat is detected by the heartbeat sensor the video camera generating video data.
 11. The video camera assembly of claim 1, further comprising a charging holster, the charging holster having a battery in a lining of the charging holster and a first contact point on the interior of the charging holster that is connected to the battery.
 12. The video camera assembly of claim 11, in which the video camera assembly has a second contact point located on the outside of the video camera assembly that is in operative communication with the power supply, and when the firearm is holstered in the charging holster the first contact point connects with the second contact point to transfer power from the battery of the charging holster to the power supply.
 13. The video camera assembly of claim 12, in which when the firearm is drawn and the first contact point no longer connects with the second contact point, the video camera starts generating video data.
 14. A method of generating video data with a video camera assembly, the method comprising: providing the video camera assembly attached to a rail mount of a firearm, the video camera assembly having a frame, a controller located on a circuit board inside of the frame, a memory located on the circuit board in operative connection with the controller, a camera, integrated with a lens, in operative connection with the controller, a microphone in operative connection with the controller, a power supply in operative connection with the controller, and a power switch configured to connect power to the controller from the power supply in an on position and disconnect power to the controller in an off position, in which the camera is configured to generate video data to be stored on the memory, the microphone is configured to generate audio data to be stored on the memory, and the camera generating video data and the microphone generating audio data when the power switch is in the on position; and turning the power switch to the on position.
 15. The method of claim 14, in which the camera is a night vision camera.
 16. The method of claim 14, in which in which the power switch further has a standby position, power is supplied to the controller when the power switch is in the standby position, the video camera assembly further has an accelerometer and gyroscope, the accelerometer and gyroscope configured to detect when the firearm is moved from a holstered position to an unholstered position, the video camera generating video data when the unholstered position is detected when the power switch is in the standby position.
 17. The method of claim 14, in which the firearm further has a firearm safety, in which the firearm can discharge a bullet when the safety is in a disengaged position, and the firearm is prevented from discharging a bullet when the safety is in an engaged position.
 18. The method of claim 17, in which the firearm safety is the power switch, and the disengaged position is also the on position, and the engaged position is also the off position. 